I have never had DACA
What a first request means right now, and other options to ask about.
5 steps
Step 1 of 5: Know what is happening with first requests
Read this first. It explains what USCIS is doing with new requests today.
- Is DACA still available?Yes, if you have DACA now or had it in the last year: USCIS is still taking and approving renewals. If you never had DACA, USCIS accepts first time requests but is not deciding them, because of a Texas court order.Quick answer
- First time DACA requestYes, you can file, and USCIS will accept it. But a court order stops USCIS from deciding new requests, so it will sit and wait. Get a free legal screening before you pay $605.Quick answer
Step 2 of 5: Check the rules and gather proof
Every rule has to be proved with dated papers.
- First time DACA checklistYou need to meet every DACA rule, prove it with papers, and send Forms I-821D, I-765 and I-765WS on paper with the $605 fee. But be real about timing: USCIS accepts first time requests today and is not deciding them because of a court order. Get a free legal screening before you file.Quick answer
- Prove Residence Since 2007To ask for DACA the first time, you have to show you have lived here since June 15, 2007. You don't need a paper for every day. You need a steady trail of dated papers with your name on them. Here's how to find them, fill the gaps and get them ready for a lawyer.Guide
- First time DACA papers listPrint it and fill it in by handChecklist
Step 3 of 5: Get your case reviewed for free or low cost
Have a qualified person look at your papers before you decide.
- Free help filing DACACalifornia pays nonprofits across the state to help with DACA for free or at low cost. Find one on the state map, or use the Bay Area list below. Get help only from a licensed lawyer or a DOJ accredited representative at a recognized nonprofit. Never from a notario.Quick answer
- What to say when you call a clinicPrint it and fill it in by handChecklist
Step 4 of 5: Ask about other paths
DACA is not the only door. A screening can show options you did not know about.
- Undocumented Green Card PathsThere is no single line to stand in, and living here 10 years does not earn a green card by itself. But many undocumented people do have a path they don't know about yet, through family, harm they survived, their age, or an old petition. A free screening is how you find out. Here are the real paths, the myths that cost people money and years, and where to get checked for free.Guide
- No Clear Path YetNo path today does not mean no path ever. Laws change, families change, and many people find an option they missed. You can get ready now. Get a real screening, gather your records, protect your family, and keep your record clean, so you can move fast when a door opens.Guide
- Screening prep sheetPrint it and fill it in by handChecklist
Step 5 of 5: Get help from a person
You do not have to do this alone. Ask about cost, languages and current openings before you share documents.
- California state-funded immigration legal servicesThe California Department of Social Services funds nonprofit organizations to give free immigration legal services to people who live or have lived in California. Services include DACA, naturalization, other immigration applications, removal defense and help for unaccompanied minors.Organization
- ImmigrationLawHelp.orgA national directory of free or low-cost nonprofit immigration legal service providers. Search by ZIP code, county or the name of a detention facility.Organization
This page puts DNLH guides in a useful order. It is general information, not legal advice. Each guide shows its sources and the date its facts were checked.
Not quite your situation?
All situations- My DACA expires in the next few monthsRenew on time and keep working while you wait.6 steps
- My DACA already expired, or my renewal is lateFile now, push a slow case and protect your income.5 steps
- I want to travel outside the U.S. with DACAUnderstand the risk, get legal advice, then apply.5 steps
- I cannot afford the DACA feeLoans, grants and free filing help.4 steps